School daze in Ballyfiny

The decision to move 535 secondary pupils from the rural setting of Ballyfin College in Co. Laois and amalgamate them with the much smaller VEC school in the town of Portlaoise has caused uproar among parents, who are determined to reverse the decision. Mairead Lavery reports.

Laois/Offaly is expected to be one of the most hotly contested constituencies in the forthcoming general election. The mix of local issues has been intensified by the highly controversial decision to close Ballyfin College and move its 535 pupils from their rural setting to a new school in Portlaoise town. This school will be an amalgamation of Ballyfin and an existing VEC school in Portlaoise.

Parents and rural communities across a wide area of the county regard what is proposed for Ballyfin as simply unacceptable. They maintain that the removal of the only rural secondary school in the area is an attack on the rights of rural parents to choose the type of second level education they want for their children.

For many years Ballyfin College in Co Laois was well known as a secondary boarding school for boys. Established by the Patrician Brothers in 1929, it finally closed its doors to boarders in 1995. The college is located in a walled demesne of more than 600 acres with an ornamental lake of 30 acres. The 19th century mansion includes the famous Gold Room and a Turner conservatory similar to those in Dublin's Botanic Gardens. Today the college is a thriving coeducational voluntary secondary school catering for 535 pupils and has seen enrolment grow by 250% in 25 years.

About half the pupils in Ballyfin are from Portlaoise, with the other half coming from the rural hinterland within a radius of 20 kilometres. In all, it takes pupils from 30 local primary schools. The rural setting and its safe environment are key attractions of the school.

"In a questionnaire to parents, 87% said the location of the school was one of the main reasons they sent their child here," according to Joe Cox, chairman of the Parents' Council. Its academic credentials are also excellent, with 83% of last year's Leaving Cert class going on to third level. This is remarkable in a county that has one of the lowest third level attendance rates in the country.

Secondary education in the nearby town of Portlaoise has been the subject of a major review over the past few years. That review culminated in the McCarthy Report published last August, which recommended the construction of three new schools -- a girls' convent school, boys' Christian Brothers and mixed VEC. The package came with a price tag of €28million. Ballyfin was not included in this review. However, last summer that situation changed when the Patrician Brothers decided to withdraw from active ownership and management of the school and placed the school, the house and the demesne on the market. At the same time they agreed to the amalgamation of Ballyfin College with the 150-pupil Portlaoise VEC school.

"We accept that the Brothers have the right to sell the place, but we cannot accept the deal they did with the VEC," said Mr Cox. "This was done without consultation with parents, staff or pupils. We only heard about it minutes before it was announced on the radio. Nor can we accept the McCarthy report, as its scope is limited to Portlaoise. It does not consider the needs of the wider area, including Ballyfin, Mountrath, Camross and beyond.

"Ballyfin College was only tagged on to this report when the trustees decided they were phasing out their involvement in the school. The school is on their property and they want a complete break from it," said Mr Cox.

"We have tried our best to have the issue revisited, but the trustees are not for moving," added Harry Allen, assistant chairman of the Parents' Council.

Rumours abound that Ballyfin is already sold. The figure mentioned is €9.4million, with the supposed purchaser being a well known aviation magnate from the mid-west. However, the sale is subject to vacant possession. Those championing the future of the school insist this cannot happen. "We want the Government to purchase Ballyfin estate in its entirety. They've already made a down payment by spending €1million on the roof of the old house last year," said Catherine Donlon, a teacher in the college and a member of the committee to save it.

To this end, the Parents' Council and Laois County Council have developed blueprints for the future management and ownership of the school and other facilities and amenities at Ballyfin. However, Sile de Valera, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, got no support when she brought the proposals to cabinet. Feelings ran high when this was confirmed at a recent public meeting attended by almost 700 people -- with Fianna Fail TDs Sean Fleming and John Moloney coming in for particular criticism.

Despite marching to the Dail, writing letters and holding public meetings, the committee has yet to formally meet Education Minister Michael Woods. "We were included as an afterthought when he was in the county at another function, but it was an unsuccessful meeting," said Geraldine Glynn, a teacher at the school.

Despite concerns about the future of Ballyfin, the college already has 107 first year students signed up for next September. "Parents do not want to send their children to big urban schools. The two largest schools in Laois - Ballyfin and Heywood - are both in rural areas, and the schools in Mountrath also have a large intake from the more urban areas. That's the choice parents make, and they are entitled to it," added Ms Glynn.

Sixth year prefect Lisa Cripps summed up the situation well: "Our school has been abandoned, and with it the surrounding rural areas. Ballyfin is a great school, with a reputation for excellence and is located in a wonderful, clean, safe environment. The onus is on all of us to save it and keep it at the heart our rural community."

Help wanted

For most of its life Ballyfin was a boarding school for boys, and the Parents' Committee is calling on past pupils from around the country to join the campaign to save it for future generations. "We'd be delighted with even a phone call of support from past pupils," said Harry Allen, who was educated there himself. He can be contacted at 086-6062736 or by letter c/o Ballyfin College.

Not just a school